Grades 6-8  •  Montville, New Jersey

Over 50 invited guests, each with a powerful story of survival, visit Robert R. Lazar every other year to share their stories with students, staff, and community members. On one special day, students have the opportunity to hear the presentations of 5-8 speakers. Examples of past guest speakers include a former Sudanese slave, Rwandan and Cambodian genocide survivors, and a survivor of the Columbine massacre. Through the life stories of the guest speakers, students learn about current events, the challenges confronting those who face adversity and hate, and the human will to survive. The impact of the day is life changing for students, as their participation in the surveys and activities that precede and follow the event reveal. Students reflect in various ways on what they experience, such as through journal entries, poetry, murals and other art projects, letters to the speakers, and role-play activities. Discussions continue in youth groups and at the kitchen table. Over ninety-five percent of the students participating report that the program has made them more aware of hatred, bigotry, and prejudice. As a result, the award winning program has received extensive media coverage.